Renkert building, Children Services reopen after bomb threat

Lori Monsewicz

Friday

Oct 30, 2009 at 12:01 AMOct 30, 2009 at 5:24 PM

The Renkert building and county Children Services office reopen following bomb threats that forced evacuation Friday morning.

The Children Services division of the Stark County Department of Job & Family Services resumed services in the Renkert Building around noon Friday following phone threats of a bomb that led to the building’s evacuation.

The building at 300 Market Avenue N in Canton was closed about two hours.

“Unfortunately, these are the types of issues we (Children Services) face due to the type of work we are involved in,” Julie Barnes, executive director, said in a statement. “Our first priority is to ensure the safety of our staff and the clients we serve.”

About 180 Children Services workers and dozens of other office workers were evacuated as police, firefighters and street department workers cordoned off a four-block radius Friday morning.

Two phone threats mentioning a bomb came into the 911 dispatch center about 10 a.m., noting the building at 306 Market Ave. N, said Capt. Bruce Lawver, who heads the department’s Detective Bureau.